Local boxer star in the making

Turlock’s Sandra Tovar bounced back into the winner’s column after a big loss last month at the Adidas National Tournament for boxing to win her recent fight in this past Saturday’s Aleman’s Independence Day Boxing Show in Fresno.

Tovar, who competes in the 13-year-old, 90 pound girls division and trains out of the Delhi Boxing Club, was able beat her opponent, Maria Ruiz, in three straight rounds to boost her record to 3-2 after five fights at the amateur level.

“I was really nervous because there’s a lot of people there and [I] never fought with such a big crowd and people,” said Tovar. “I was more aggressive in this fight than in the last.”

Tovar struggled with time per fight as she had previously competed in three minute rounds, but this time around she fought in one-minute rounds — and she left it all in the ring.

“I waited too long in the other fight to attack. This time I was taking it to her because it goes by too fast,” Tovar said. “I like the one minute rounds because it goes by faster and then we can get it over with sooner.”

Tovar, who’s coach and trainer is her dad, mentioned how the support and help from him has been huge in her growth along with her family's love for the sport.

“My dad and older brother help me with fighting, it’s good to have my dad out there because I can tell him stuff instead of other people and it's good having him as a coach,” said Tovar.

Also fighting out of the Delhi Boxing Club in June’s Adidas National Tournament was 20-year-old Francisco Madrigal, who took the championship in the novice division at the 152 pound weight class winning three straight matches to reach the ultimate prize.

Tovar is now training for her next fight, which will be on July 19 in Brentwood against a local fighter yet to be named at the 90 pound division.

Tovar will also compete in Redwood City Beautiful Brawlers tournament in August.